Utilization of municipal solid waste rejects in the production of a recycled plastic waste composite material

The solid waste disposal problem has grown significantly in the last decades imposing a lot of pressure on disposal and treatment acts. In the past, incineration and landfilling were the common methods for disposing of products of municipal solid waste. With the increasing volumes of waste generation and the legislative restrictions of these treatment methods, reuse of bulk waste is foreseen as the best alternative to disposal. Due to the current widespread use of plastic products in daily life, post consumer plastics now contribute significantly to municipal solid waste generation rates with a contradicting low participation in waste minimization practices. The notable variation in composition and properties of these material in the waste stream together with the high sorting and separation costs has limited their reuse and recycling options to low value products with poor physical and mechanical properties. This thesis proposes an alternative recycling method to divert mixed post-consumer plastics away from dump sites through the production of an environmentally safe construction material. The engineering and service properties of the proposed new recycled plastic waste composite were evaluated and presented. Mechanical testing including compression, flexural strength and hardness were conducted on mixes with different sand contents, sand sieve size and different mixing temperatures in order to evaluate the effect of each variable on the investigated properties. Abrasion resistance, water absorption, chemical resistance and Vicat softening temperature were performed to assess the effectiveness of the composite material for the proposed application. In addition, investigation of heavy metals content by a water leaching test was carried out together with an air quality test of the produced emissions in order to assess the health hazards associated with the anticipated material use and production. The test results revealed that the new material is suitable for use as pedestrian and light traffic paving brick. The compressive strength was 7.25% higher than the ASTM limit. The composite material also revealed a high modulus of rupture compared to clay bricks and industrial floor bricks indicating its potential for use in structural service requirements. The abrasion resistance of the composite material was 70% higher than the Egyptian standard limit for cement tiles allowing for its use in tiling applications. The composite material exhibited very low density and water absorption rate in comparison to cement tiles and paving units. In addition, the material showed high chemical resistance to acidic and alkaline attack allowing for its use as industrial flooring. The softening temperature of the composite material was much higher than the maximum service temperature expected during summer. Finally, the recycled plastic waste composite demonstrated no health hazards or toxicity as revealed by the water leaching test

Calligraphers, Illuminators and Patrons: Mamluk Qur'an Manuscripts from 1341-1412 AD in light of the collection of the National Library of Egypt

The Mamluks of Egypt and Syria excelled in most arts, especially architecture and Qur’an manuscript production. While their architecture is heavily studied, very little in depth research has been done on their Qur’an manuscripts, especially the collection kept at the National Library of Egypt (Dar al-Kutub al-Misriyya). This dissertation examines and analyzes the illumination and calligraphy of the Mamluk Qur’an manuscripts produced after the death of the Mamluk sultan al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun (d. 741/1341) until the death of the second Circassian Mamluk sultan Faraj ibn Barquq (d. 815/1412), that are kept in Dar al-Kutub. This period in Mamluk history was a turbulent one with socio-political calamities, yet Qur’an manuscript production was not affected. Illumination and calligraphy workshops have been identified using stylistic similarities in conjunction with the information found in the rich chronicles and biographical dictionaries of the Mamluk period. Biographies of artists, mostly calligraphers, were reconstructed and their modes of learning were investigated to shed light on their training process depending primarily on the calligraphy treatises of the period. Patrons, especially in their capacity as supporters of workshops, were also studied in light of the primary sources and to a lesser extent through their architecture.Ph.D.2019-11-01 00:00:0

Technology in Advertising

Introducing animated holograms as a new advertising medium in This project created by a final year graphic design student is an ambitious attempt to design a hologram in the most efficient way. The idea of using holograms as a mean of advertising might not be new as many companies around the world used it before. However, in Egypt this idea is still new as many companies are afraid to adopt the technology. The Hologram design project aims to rebel against the traditional means of advertising by giving a cutting-edge and affordable technology that can be used as a mean of advertising in Egypt. This project aims to make a statement that the design of a hologram does not have to be a costly process and it can be done with very limited resources. On the other side of the spectrum, Stella being a cultural icon and one of the oldest Egyptian brands that creates beers is chosen as the advertised brand. In this campaign Stella celebrates its 120th anniversary with its loyal customers by blending between the long history of beers in ancient Egypt till now. The campaign portrays Stella as an cultural icon by showing how the beer industry in Egypt dates 6,000 years back and how Stella has always been the favorite tipple for Egyptians through time

The Story of a Cairene Calligrapher in Mamluk times

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Current and never smokers: Differentials in characteristics, knowledge and perceptions

ABSTRACT A cross-sectional interview survey of tobacco use was conducted in Alexandria, Egypt, comparing current smokers with never smokers. Among men, the risk of current tobacco use was significantly higher among married participants (OR = 1.74), especially those with low educational or occupational status. In contrast, although few women smoked, tobacco use was significantly higher among those holding a university degree (OR = 15.33). Never smokers were significantly more knowledgeable than current smokers about tobacco-related health hazards. Never smokers had significantly better perceptions of the danger of tobacco use, susceptibility to health-related hazards and the benefits of being tobacco-free. Multivariate analysis revealed that tobacco use is independently predicted by participants' sex, age and educational attainment as well as their perceptions. Fumeurs actuels et personnes n'ayant jamais fumé : différences dans les caractéristiques dé-mographiques, les connaissances et les perceptions RESUME Une enquête transversale par entretien sur la consommation de tabac a été réalisée à Alexandrie (Egypte), comparant les fumeurs actuels et les personnes n'ayant jamais fumé. Chez les hommes, le risque de consommation actuelle de tabac était significativement plus élevé chez les participants mariés (OR = 1,74), notamment chez ceux qui avaient un faible niveau d'instruction ou un statut professionnel peu élevé. Par contre, même si peu de femmes fumaient, la consommation de tabac était significativement plus élevée chez celles qui étaient titulaires d'un diplôme universitaire (OR = 15,33). Les personnes n'ayant jamais fumé connaissaient beaucoup mieux les risques pour la santé liés au tabagisme que les fumeurs actuels. Les personnes n'ayant jamais fumé avaient des perceptions significativement meilleures du danger de la consommation de tabac, de la sensibilité aux risques pour la santé liés au tabagisme et des avantages de ne pas fumer. L'analyse multivariée a révélé que la consommation de tabac est prédite indépendamment par le sexe et l'âge des participants, par leur niveau d'études ainsi que par leurs perceptions

From Islamic Calligraphic Arts to Modern Arab Design: A Conversation with Bahia Shehab and Haytham Nawar

Bahia Shehab (ARIC alumna and Professor of Practice, Department of Arts, AUC) and Haytham Nawar (Chair of Department of the Arts, AUC) have just published their book A History of Arab Graphic Design which recently won the Art History & Criticism category in the 2021 PROSE Awards organized by the Association of American Publishers (AAP). The book traces the work of over eighty designers from all over the Arab world. In this talk, moderated by Noha Abou Khatwa (Adjunct Assistant Professor of Islamic Art and Architecture, AUC), they will discuss the evolution of Arab graphic design focusing on the influences of traditional Islamic calligraphic arts on its development